Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-02-17
JOE JEFFERsoN's HOME.

Across the marshes and bayOus
eight miles to the west from Petite
Anse Island rises Orange Island, IA
nous for its orange plantation, but
called Jefferson Island since It became
the property and home of Joseph JEFF
ferson. Not SO high as Petite Ansc. it
is still CONSPICUOUS with its crown of
dark forest. From high point on
Petite Anse, through lovely vista of
trees, with towering cacti in the fore
ground, Jefferson's house is white
spot in the landscape. We reached it
by circuitous drive Of twelve miles
over the prairie, sometimes in and some
times out of the water. and continual
~ diyerting from our course by fences.
1t is good sign of the thrift of the
race, and Of its independence, that the
colored people have taken up or bought
little tracts of thirty or forty acres, put
up cabins, and new fences round their
domains regardless of the travelling
public. We zigzagged all about the
country to get round these little enclo-
sures. AT one place, where the main
road was bad, thrifty Acadian had
set up tod Of twenty-five cents for
the privilege of passing through his
premises. The scenery was pastoral
and pleasing. There were frequent
round ponds, brilliant with lilies and
feurs-de-liS, and hundreds of cattle
feeding on the prairie or standing in
the water, and generally of dun
color, made always an agreeable pie
ture. The monotony was broken by
lines of trees, by cape-like woods
stretching into the plain, and the hori-
zon line was always fine. Great var
iety Of birds enliyened the landscape,
game birds Astounding. There was the
lively little nonpareil, which seems to
change its color, and is red and green
and blue-I believe of the oriole fam
ily-the papabotte, favorite on New
Orleans tables in the autumn snipe,
killdee, the CHEROKEE (snipe?) the
meadow-lark, and quantities OF teal
ducks in the ponds. These little ponds
are called ''bull-holes. +" The traveller
is told that they arc started in this wa
terry soil by the paving of bulls, and
gradually enlarged as the cattle fire.
quent them. He remembers that he
has seen similar circular ponds in the
north not made by bulls.
Mr.. Jefferson's RESIDENCE pretty
rose-vine covered cottage-is situated
on the slope of the hill, overlooking
broad plain and vast stretch of bayou
country. Along one side of his home
enclosure for a mile runs a superb
hedge of Chickasaw roses. On the
slope back Of the house, and almost
embracing it, is a magnificent grove Of
live-oaks, great gray stems, and the
branches hung with heavy masses of
moss, which swing in the wind like the
pendant boughs Of the willow, and
with something of its sentimental and
mournful suggestion. The recesses Of
this forest are cool and dark, but upon
ascending the hill, suddenly bursts
upon view under the trees most love-
" lake Of clear blue water This lake,
which may be mile long and half a
mile broad, is called Lake Peigncur,
from its fanciful resemblance, | believe,
to wool-comber The shores are
wooden On the island side the bank
Is pfeclpitGusi on the opposite SHORE
amid the trees is a hunting ledge, and
l believe there are plantations on the
north end, but it is in aspect altogether
solitary and peaceful. But the island
did not want life. The day was bril-
liant, with deep blue sky and high
sailing heecy clouds. and it seemed q
sort of animal holiday; squirrels chat
teTing; cardinal-birds flashed through
the green leaves; there fitted about the
red-winged blackbird, blue jays, red
headed wood-peckers, thrushes, and oc.
easionally n rain-crow crossed the
scene; high overhead sailed the heavy
buzzards, describing great aerial cir
cles; and off in the still lake the ugly
| heads OF alligators toasting in the sun.
Charles Dudley Hiarner, IN Harpers'
! MG1azt5le